Midlands consultant becomes first frontline medic to die from coronavirus
A doctor who worked in Staffordshire is believed to be the first NHS frontline worker to die after testing positive for coronavirus.
Amged El-Hawrani, 55, who worked for the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB), died on Saturday at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester
Mr El-Hawrani worked as a consultant at Queen's Hospital, in Burton, and as a ear, nose and throat (ENT) trainer.
His death was confirmed on Sunday.
Gavin Boyle, chief executive at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton, said: "I want to pay tribute to Mr Amged El-Hawrani, who has sadly passed away. Mr El-Hawrani, known to his colleagues as Amged, was an extremely hard working consultant and ear, nose and throat (ENT) trainer who was well liked at the Trust and particularly at Queen’s Hospital Burton where he worked.
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“Amged played a leading role in the merger between the hospitals in Burton and Derby and helped bring the two clinical teams together. He was keen to support colleagues outside of ENT and was well known across a wide number of departments.
“He was known for his dedication and commitment to his patients. He had also raised funds for the hospitals, including climbing in the Himalayas with a group of friends some years ago. The whole UHDB family are desperately saddened at losing Amged who was such a valued and much loved colleague.
“On behalf of everyone here at UHDB, including our patients and the communities we serve, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to his family.
Dedicated
“We would also like to thank our colleagues at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust for their professionalism and the compassionate care they have shown for Amged and his family.”
Amged’s son Ashraf, said: "Most of my dad's time was dedicated towards his family, and the rest of that time was dedicated towards his profession. He taught me the significance of respect and equality.
"He also stressed the importance of not worrying about the things I cannot control, which he displayed to me right up until the end of his life. He did not seek the praise and approval of others, he was satisfied by viewing the positive effects of his actions and the wellbeing of his family.
"I am incredibly proud to say that for 18 years of my life, Amged El-Hawrani was my father."
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, added: “My deepest condolences are with Amged’s family at this extremely sad time.
“The NHS is a family and we all feel deeply the loss of any of our colleagues, as we all continue to unite and work together to tackle the spread of coronavirus, I know that the whole of the NHS and the public we serve will want to extend our sympathies to the El-Hawrani family.
“Nobody can be in any doubt about the scale of the challenge we face with this virus, and Amged’s death is not just an individual human tragedy but a stark reminder to the whole country that we all must take this crisis seriously, which means everyone abiding by the government’s clear instructions to stay indoors, self-isolate, keep strictly to social distancing advice and practise good hygiene, which means washing hands more often and for longer.
“The advice issued by government and the health service can be the difference between life and death, so this is everybody’s chance to be a lifesaver.”
